Boudhanath is located 11 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu’s center. One of the largest and most significant Buddhist monuments in the world it has stood firm on the skyline since the fifth century, commanding it with its purity and beauty. It is Nepal’s largest spherical stupa and one of Asia’s largest stupas.

See the fact file below for more information on Boudhanath Stupa, or you can download our 31-page Boudhanath Stupa worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

MYTHOLOGY

• The Boudhanath Stupa tale is significant and highly inspirational. When you hear it, you’ll truly appreciate the advantages of going around it, sweeping it, and cleaning it all day and night.
• A mother named Jadzima, who took care of her hens, built the stupa. It is believed that they were an impoverished family. She pleaded with the king of Nepal for permission to acquire the land because she yearned to construct a stupa. 
• The monarch typically wouldn’t grant such authority, but for some reason, perhaps because of her karma, he said, “Okay, it can be done.”
• Jarung means “it can be done,” and kashor means “slipped out of the mouth,” which is why the Tibetans refer to it as “Jarung Kashor Chorten.” The stupa is also called chorten.
• After finishing the vase, the dome-shaped object, the mother, passed away. Her four sons completed the remaining portions of the stupa. They all stood up before it after they were finished and prayed. 
• Each person made a wish. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas merged into the stupa during their prayers, which is why the stupa’s name also means “All-Encompassing.”
• This tale was heard by a Kagyu nun from Brazil. When she first saw the stupa, she prayed for the ability to establish monasteries. On her return, she was able to build them according to her plans. There are more tales like this.
• The eldest brother prayed to become the Songtsen Gampo, the Dharma ruler of Tibet, in the next life. Under his rule, two princesses delivered Shakyamuni Buddha sculptures, one of which is currently housed in the Jokhang and the other in the Ramoche. 
• He made beautiful contributions to all sentient beings and contributed to the construction of the Jokhang. The second brother, Padma Gungtsen, was appointed a minister of Tibet. The fourth brother, Padmasambhava, and the third brother, Shantarakshita, became monks.
• It is also known as wish-granting and the wishes or prayers anyone makes at the stupa will be granted, even when viewing the stupa from a distance.
• You can offer your most vital prayer, even from an airplane, when you first see it.
• Samye, the first monastery built in central Tibet, was demolished by spirits at night while construction took place during the day. One of the ministers had the idea to invite Padmasambhava from India. 
• He appeared as a divinity, believed to be called “Controlling the Three Realms,” who tamed the spirits and forced them to swear allegiance to the Dharma. They remained close to him on the mountain to safeguard the Dharma in Tibet.
• Due to the spread and long-term preservation of Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet, many have followed the path and attained enlightenment. 
• And as a result, Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism has become widely practiced worldwide. 
• Every year, tens of thousands of people, even in the West, can follow the path to enlightenment, give meaning to their lives, and discover serenity and pleasure.
• Everyone, including ourselves, can practice the lam-rim and have access to purification every day, bringing us closer to liberation from samsara by accumulating the three main facets of the path to enlightenment and the tantric stages to help us to attain this culture.

THE HISTORY

• Boudhanath’s original name was Khasti Mahachaitya before the Panchayat era. The term “large stupa of dewdrops” is “khasti Mahachaitya,” but during the Panchayat rule in the 1960s, King Mahendra shortened it to “Boudhanath.”
• It is thought that the first stupa at Boudhanath was constructed when Song Tsen Gampo, the Tibetan king, turned to Buddhism in 600 AD. But, the original stupa was destroyed by the Mughal kings. 
• However, the Lichhavi king Sivadeva is credited with building the stupa in the fifth century, according to the Gopalaraja-vamsawali. Several rulers are linked to the building of this stupa. 
• According to numerous Nepalese chronicles, the stupa was built during the reign of King Manadeva.
• Archaeologists also discovered Amshu Verma’s remains in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Furthermore, the construction of this historic stupa is the subject of several tales and legends.
• But there is also historical evidence linking the Boudhanath Stupa’s construction to the Tibetan Empire’s Trisong Detsen. Boudhanath was revived by the Yolmo Shakya Zangpo of the Helambu region. Bhrikuti, a princess from Nepal, wed Songtsen Gampo, a Tibetan monarch.
• The introduction and growth of Buddhism in Tibet are credited to Bhrikuti and his other Chinese wife. Trisong Detsen, the first Dharma King under Songtsen Gampo was standing next to him. A widowed Tibetan woman traveled from Lhasa to Khaasti during a time when Buddhism was growing in Tibet and commercial links between Tibet and Nepal was improving. Her four sons were captivated by seeing how the Newa formed chaitya, a meta-symbolic building with varying degrees of suggestion, sagacity, and profundity. She brought her four sons with her.
• Jyajhima was the woman who sat under Khaasti’s shade for several days. She and her sons returned to Lhasa after visiting Nepal and were moved by the Newars’ friendliness, where they shared their experiences with locals. 
• She is noteworthy because only men and traders traveled from Nepal to Tibet back then. When she learned that Bhrikuti stories were circulating in Lhasa, she became attracted by Khaasti. 
• She had to request permission from the king to visit Khaasti because she was a widow.
• When Shakya Zangpo arrived in Nepal, he was looking for the stupa but only discovered an abandoned mound. The remains of Nepali monarch Amsuverma, who is said to be the father of Srongsten Gampo’s Nepali queen Bhrikuti, are reported to have been discovered during a restoration project he performed. 
• The stupa in the saze we see now most likely developed due to his renovation. During the project, he is thought to have lived in the area known today as Chabahil.

SYMBOLISM OF DIFFERENT PARTS 

• Stupas are viewed in Nepal as a representation of Lord Buddha’s pure intellect. Each step leads the way to enlightenment. Let’s start at the top and explore the design and symbolic significance of the Boudhanath Stupa.

1. Pinnacle – This represents the King of Mountains, Mount Sumeru, the enormous “mountain above the mountains,”which is the center of the world and thought to be the residence of the gods.
2. Umbrella – The umbrella protects three treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. It is thought that the air is represented by a gliding canopy that lies above the umbrella.
3. Lotus – The lotus represents self-actualization, enlightenment, and purity because it is rooted in muck, grows in filthy water, and emerges as a symbol of beauty without becoming stained. It stands for wise beings like the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
4. Thirteen Steps – The stupa’s name derives from the thirteen steps representing the Bodhisattva’s basis for enlightenment or “Bodhi” in its thirteen phases. The triangle is a symbol of fire.
5. Two large eyes – The four corners of the stupa’s central tower are adorned with massive pairs of eyes. These are the Buddha’s eyes of wisdom, and the eyes of the stupa stand in for the Buddha’s all-seeing ability.
6. Nose – The nose represents Nirvana. Additionally, it is supposed to reflect the Nepali letter representing number 1, which stands for unity and the only path to enlightenment.
7. Harmika – Harmika represents the eight noble paths. The eight dignified ways consist of the following:
   • Right view
   • Right thought
   • Right speech
   • Right action
   • Right livelihood
   • Right endeavor
   • Right mindfulness
   • Right meditative concentration
8. Prayer Flags – These are are fastened to stupas and flutter in the wind. It is believed they carry mantras and prayers heavenward. The five colors on the prayer flags each have a special meaning.
   • The color white represents innocence and the primal self.
   • The color green stands for safety and protection from harm.
   • The color yellow represents riches and beauty.
   • The color blue represents wisdom, awakening, and enlightenment.
   • The color red stands for compassion and love.
9. Dome – The dome represents the universe or the treasure Mandala container. It includes votive offerings to the gods, water of eternity, and jewels of illumination.
10. Mandala – Earthly levels are depicted in the square mandala. The mandala is portrayed as an external expression that can be used to discover the world inside. The mandala frequently includes images or physical representations of the Buddha to illustrate the progression of the spiritual path. As a result, it is regarded as Lord Buddha’s mansion.
11. Circular Plinths – Just below the dome, the stupa’s hemisphere is supported by two circular plinths that represent water.
12. Three Decreasing Platforms – Three sizable platforms, ranging in size, make up the stupa’s base. These platforms represent the Earth, from these platforms, and you can observe the mountains while listening to the chants of the devotees doing kora or praying while they walk around the stupa.
13. The Dhyani Buddhas – As in all Tibetan mandalas, four of the Dhyani Buddhas mark the cardinal points, with the fifth, Vairocana, enthroned in the middle (in the white hemisphere of the stupa). The stupa’s architecture depicts the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space/ether), symbolized by the five Buddhas.

SIGNIFICANCE OF BOUDHANATH STUPA 

• The lovely holy mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” is chanted by devotees as they pass through the profoundly spiritual Boudha area more than three times daily. Monks engage in prayer and music on the day of the full moon, and many Buddhists visit various locations. 
• The stupas’ architecture incorporates the Buddha‘s five most promising elements (earth, air, water, fire, and space).
• Numerous Buddhas are said to have taken the form of Lamas in the Boudha stupa, and the rays of the Bodhisattva entered the stupa in the form of a song from heaven that could be heard in the sky. This is why symbols like Boudha, Sange, Change, Duibe, and Chorten are highly regarded.
• The top level’s north side contains this holy location’s main entrance. The walls of the streets and little lanes that surround the Boudha Stupa are decorated with depictions of Buddha and bright lettering. 
• You can take a taxi to Boudha for a reasonable price or public transportation from practically any bus stop in Kathmandu valley.

2015 EARTHQUAKE

• The Boudhanath Stupa suffered significant damage from the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, which severely cracked the spire. During reconstruction, the entire structure above the dome was dismantled and the religious relics within were temporarily removed.
• The traditional installation of a new center pole, or “life tree,” for the stupa atop the dome marked the start of the renovation on November 3, 2015.
• Upon its reopening on November 22, 2016, the stupa. The Boudhanath Area Development Committee organized the renovation and construction (BADC). The entire cost of the upgrades was covered by volunteers and private donations from Buddhist organizations. 
• The BADC estimates it costs $2.1 million and more than 30 kg of gold. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal performed an official inauguration of the renovated structure. However, the Nepalese authorities came under fire for moving slowly and leaving many temples damaged by the earthquake in disrepair.

Boudhanath Stupa Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Boudhanath Stupa across 31 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest and most significant Buddhist monuments in the world.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• Boudhanath Stupa Facts
• Building Vocabulary
• What is My Symbol?
• How Did You Feel?
• Boudhanath at its Finest
• Boudhanath Stupa
• Bring it Alive
• Protecting Stupa
• Cultural or Natural
• The Eyes
• Stupa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unique about the Boudhanath stupa?

The Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world’s largest spherical stupas, is home to precious relics and remains that honor Buddha. This semi-circular structure stands out with its majestic mandala and was recognized by UNESCO in 1979 as a World Heritage Site. With its awe-inspiring presence, Boudha Stupa has become an essential stop for tourists visiting Kathmandu.

Who built the Boudhanath stupa?

The renowned Emperor Trisong Detsen of the Tibetan Empire has long been attributed to the building of the celebrated Boudhanath Stupa.

What is the meaning of Boudhanath?

The Sanskrit word stupa is synonymous with chorten, a dome-shaped architecture; it has since been adopted into English. As an iconic pilgrimage site for Buddhists everywhere, these stupas have historically held deep spiritual significance.

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